Reader Rebuttal (August 01, 2007)
Story behind Musselwhite’s caribou
I must admit to being thrilled to see one of my photos gracing the cover of this month’s CMJ [June 2007], namely the caribou exiting the conveyor ramp at Musselwhite mine.
Here’s the story behind the photo, which was taken in January 2005. A lone caribou was spotted running through the office/workshop area of the mine early in the morning, followed a few minutes later by a pair of wolves. We knew that there were caribou herds to the north, but no-one could recall ever having seen one around the mine itself. A short while later, the caribou was spotted heading down the conveyor ramp and disappearing through the conveyor portal. We finally managed to intercept it on the 220-m level, and a pair of Toyota trucks herded it back to surface.
The Mine Superintendent of the time came to my office and told me to bring my camera, as we wanted a record of the unusual event, with the cover shot being one of a series taken. The caribou was last seen running past the workshop area of the mine.
Rohan Millar, geological co-ordinator
Goldcorp Canada Ltd.
Musselwhite mine
Northwest Ontario
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